Burgh welcomed First Division Lochore Welfare to East Shore Park in the 2nd Round of the Alex Jack Cup. It was sure to be a testing encounter, and it proved to be – but the hosts always kept the game within reach before delivering the killer blow.
As probably expected from a side two divisions higher, Lochore looked a stronger and sharper side as the game started and in the 6th minute a Murray shot was deflected off Cammy Taylor’s back and looped over for a corner.
In the 17th minute a good passage of play from the visitors saw Reddington receive the ball on the left and he cut inside to sting Scott Kyles’ hands and the Burgh gloveman pushed away his effort and then blocked Donaldson’s follow up for a corner.
From the resultant kick Lochore did, however, take the lead. From Callaghan’s corner, Cusick headed goalwards and Reddington was able to get a final flick past Kyles into the roof of the net.
The visitors were creating the majority of the chances in the first half but finding Kyles in good form as the keeper excellently pushed away a powerful free kick destined for the bottom corner in the 20th minute, whilst in the 28th minute Donaldson did beat Kyles but his rasping effort rattled the crossbar and over.
Burgh’s chances were going to be limited, so it was important for the Black & Whites to make them count when they appeared, and that’s exactly what they did just before half time. Mackenzie Williamson and Andrew McCallion flicked a high ball forward to debutant Ryan Daly on the edge of the area. The Burgh no.7 smartly played a ball between three defenders to set Finn Bannerman through on goal to coolly slot beyond Fleming in the Lochore goal.
The second half was a more close and tighter affair with fewer goalmouth opportunities, but the visitors had a good chance in the 51st minute when Cusick fired a low shot across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
Daly was looking impressive for Newburgh and looking a threat whenever he was in possession and he picked up a ball forward on the left, beat his man and cut inside but was unfortunately dragged his shot wide of the near post.
Lochore regained the lead in the 58th minute as a free kick from the half way line was pumped into the box and then headed across goal. The initial header was brilliantly saved at close range by Kyles, but fell to Donaldson who tapped home the rebound from three yards out.
Burgh were about to embark on their best part of the game as that never-say-die attitude came into effect and Bannerman went close with a shot on the turn in the 66th minute. On 82 minutes Calum Black saw his effort just go over the bar.
Burgh were continuing the press for that equaliser and thought they had it in the 87th minute as Williamson tapped home at the far post from Kieran Twaddell’s ball but the officials marginally felt the Burgh skipper was in an offside position.
Still the home side continued looking for that goal and Andrew McCallion curled an effort just past the far post.
The newly-developed team spirit paid dividends deep into stoppage time, however, as Black’s free kick from the half way line was powered into the roof of the net by Twaddell in the 95th minute, much to the raptures of the supporters behind the goal.
It transpired to be almost the last kick of the game as the referee blew to send the tie to a penalty shoot out.
Williamson was first up to fire under Fleming into the net before Lochore sub Page was first to go for the visitors. Kyles was at his best to dive low to his left to block the kick.
Twaddell was next up in the shoot out and he sent the keeper the wrong way as the ball cannoned off the inside of the post and into the net, whilst Jude Black was next up for Lochore and saw his effort smack of the post and away from Kyles’ goal.
It was important to keep the pressure up in the shoot out and Calum Black did that with the best penalty of the shoot out as he again sent Fleming the wrong way and his effort flew into the roof of the net.
Lochore needed to score to keep the contest alive but Murray’s kick found Kyles’ heroics in force as the Burgh keeper dived low to his right to save and seal a 3-0 win for Newburgh on penalties.
Whilst the visitors showed their First Division mettle, Burgh adapted to the challenge well and always kept the game within touching distance and kept battling to the very end with Twaddell showing that he knows where the net is with a powerful header.
Naturally it was be an obvious shout for Scott Kyles to pick up the Man of the Match award with a number of quality saves in the first half and his saves in the shoot out, it was new boy Ryan Daly that impressed the most with his trickery, pace and movement on the left that drew most attention – but both could have an argument for the plaudits, but the whole team also earned that too.
Next up in a Quarter Final tie away at Perth neighbour Kinnoull at Tulloch Park on September 27th.
